ALABAMA!!

[Tomtommom]

Trying to understand why she would never be able to rehome any or bring in new birds. I can understand culling sick birds or even a flock when it a epidemic. But if the flock recovered wouldn't it be okay to bring in more birds or even sell birds out?

Certain ailments cause the chickens to be carriers for life, even long after they appear better.

 

[Wisher1000]

Tom is right. With some diseases (like mycoplasma) once the birds have it and recover, they shed the virus for the rest of their lives. You wouldn't want to rehome them to shed the virus at the new owner's home, endangering his flock. New birds brought in would get sick because they had not developed the antibodies. It is a vicious cycle. That is why poultry farmers practice (and the state recommends) an "all in, all out" protocol. This is not going to happen with small flock holders because it is too heartbreaking when they are pets. Therefore, we practice good biosecurity and do our part to not spread something that we know we have.

 

[bamadude]

Wow. This is crazy. Tom ur flock was doing so well it seemed. Can it really all go to crap that quickly? Im a newbie but have seen alot of ur posts on alot of different threads. Maybe its just the pollen. I have allergies until i eat local honey. I know u like natural things.

 

[Orps]

Tom is right. With some diseases (like mycoplasma) once the birds have it and recover, they shed the virus for the rest of their lives. You wouldn't want to rehome them to shed the virus at the new owner's home, endangering his flock. New birds brought in would get sick because they had not developed the antibodies. It is a vicious cycle. That is why poultry farmers practice (and the state recommends) an "all in, all out" protocol. This is not going to happen with small flock holders because it is too heartbreaking when they are pets. Therefore, we practice good biosecurity and do our part to not spread something that we know we have.

Wow didn't know they can be life carriers.

Theoretical:Let say has flock has mycoplasma and the flock is put down and now you want a new flock. What about the coop and the surrounding land? It the virus short live that nothing has to be done or does everything has to be sanitized?

And Thank for the info I'm learning a lot.

-----------

And Tomtommom- I'm sorry what you are having problems with your flock. I hope it's not anything serious as mycoplasma but just allergies. Good luck with your flock.

 

[Wisher1000]

There is a lot of good info out there. Here is an article that covers most aspects of this disease.

http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/Factsheets/pdfs/avian_mycoplasmosis_mycoplasma_gallisepticum.pdf

Quote from this article:

"Infections can be eliminated from a farm by depopulation of the flock, followed by thorough cleaning
and disinfection of the premises. Most commonly used disinfectants are thought to be effective for M.gallisepticum. Recommended disinfectants for buildings
and equipment include phenolic or cresylic acid disinfectants, hypochlorite, and 0.1% glutaraldehyde.
Mycoplasmas are typically fragile and only survive in the environment for a few days; (new) birds can be re–
introduced after 2 weeks."

Tom - I'm not saying this is what you are dealing with! I'm just answering Orps' question.

 

[Tomtommom]

Wow. This is crazy. Tom ur flock was doing so well it seemed. Can it really all go to crap that quickly? Im a newbie but have seen alot of ur posts on alot of different threads. Maybe its just the pollen. I have allergies until i eat local honey. I know u like natural things.

It really can. I don't think it's the case... but the thought always lingers in the back of my mind. It's why I try to be cautious, without going gungho about biosecurity.... I am aware of the risk.

A lot of folks just seem to pick up birds wherever. Go to swaps, bring some birds, take some home... that stuff makes me cringe. It is SO dangerous.

Wow didn't know they can be life carriers.

Theoretical:Let say has flock has mycoplasma and the flock is put down and now you want a new flock. What about the coop and the surrounding land? It the virus short live that nothing has to be done or does everything has to be sanitized?

And Thank for the info I'm learning a lot.

-----------

And Tomtommom- I'm sorry what you are having problems with your flock. I hope it's not anything serious as mycoplasma but just allergies. Good luck with your flock.

I believe mycoplasma has no cell barrier and dies within 3 days. So that is good news. Once the birds are gone and the area disinfected, you could start over. Some other diseases, such as Marek's infect your soil for years to come. It's scary stuff, certainly something that always lingers in my mind... kind of why I freaked when I found her wheezing like that. Worst case scenario thinking.

So far, my bird seems to do a bit better. She still has a cough, but her fever went down. She was burning up hot yesterday, felt normal chicken temp this morning. Stretched her legs in the kitchen, nibbled some food, pooped on my floor

(that's good, that way I can look at her poop. It had chili flakes and a bit of garlic in it, so she's not blocked

). Found an egg in her carrier, so that's great. All of these diseases carry the symptom of poor egg quality, shell quality or even entire slow down of laying... still getting daily eggs that look normal, so that gives me some hope.

Feeling positive today.

The pollen are coming down with a vengeance... but it rained a bunch, so if they're not sneezing today, that would indicate pollen allergy. Fun fact friday: Alabama/Florida/Georgia have the HIGHEST amount of different native tree species... kind of explains why the pollen is so bad here.

There is a lot of good info out there. Here is an article that covers most aspects of this disease.

http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/Factsheets/pdfs/avian_mycoplasmosis_mycoplasma_gallisepticum.pdf

Quote from this article:

"Infections can be eliminated from a farm by depopulation of the flock, followed by thorough cleaning
and disinfection of the premises. Most commonly used disinfectants are thought to be effective for M.gallisepticum. Recommended disinfectants for buildings
and equipment include phenolic or cresylic acid disinfectants, hypochlorite, and 0.1% glutaraldehyde.
Mycoplasmas are typically fragile and only survive in the environment for a few days; (new) birds can be re–
introduced after 2 weeks."

Tom - I'm not saying this is what you are dealing with! I'm just answering Orps' question.

I've read every snippet of info I could find on every possible respiratory disease, partially causing my uncertainty as to what to do. They do not have the symptoms of sick birds. Early onset disease would show first in lack of eggs or deformed eggs... I get 7-8 normal eggs a day out of 9 girls. No listlessness, they eat like pigs, drink the same as usual, no fluffed up birds, no hunched birds. Yes, they're sneezy. And I had one panting in the middle of the day in the hot sun.

If I had a clear indication that there was an infectious disease going around and they all looked like crap, not for a moment would I hesitate to do what is needed.... but killing birds on a hunch seems a bit kneejerk. Sick bird no.1 seems to be improving too..

Just hoping I am worrying about nothing.

I'm hoping to see an improvement in the sneezing after all this rain, it should have knocked down a bunch of dust and pollen.. and no panting, since it's not that hot.

 

[bamadude]

Tom the discussion we had a few days ago regarding preventative vaccines and all; does this scare u into rethinking any of ur views? If u had to start ur flock over what would u differently?

 

[Tomtommom]

Tom the discussion we had a few days ago regarding preventative vaccines and all; does this scare u into rethinking any of ur views? If u had to start ur flock over what would u differently?

I am not anti-vaccine, by the way, vaccines trigger the bodies' natural defenses! I just do not believe in overmedicating or medicating broad spectrum without knowing what you're trying to cure in the first place.. preventative medication... or medicating for things that go away on their own (that one is so darn stupid..... just makes no sense to me.)

If you never allow yourself, your child or your pet/livestock to fight off a disease on their own, they will never grow a stronger immune system. The body is made to fight things on it's own, if you keep doing the work for it, it will lose that ability. I kind of look at it as those folks that take their car to go everywhere... even things close enough to walk. Eventually they'll be so out of shape, they will take their car to drive to the darn mailbox.

Keep medication for when you actually NEED it.

 

[troy1]

try again...I just put 10 Silver Sebright, 4 Golden Sebright. and 2 Old English Silverduckwing Bantam eggs in the incubator....keep yer fingers crossed.

 

[Crickett]

Adding a goose to the family! Pen will be built tomorrow! And goose will be here tomorrow as well!